What Does Exodus 10:20 Mean?
Exodus 10:20 describes how, after the plague of darkness, the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart so he still refused to let the Israelites go. This moment shows that even in the face of clear signs and suffering, stubbornness can keep us from freedom and obedience.
Exodus 10:20
But the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he did not let the people of Israel go.
Key Facts
Book
Author
Moses
Genre
Narrative
Date
Approximately 1446 BC (event date)
Key People
- Pharaoh
- Moses
- Aaron
- The Lord (Yahweh)
- The Israelites
Key Themes
- Divine sovereignty
- Hardening of the heart
- Deliverance from bondage
- God's power over rulers
- Judgment and mercy
Key Takeaways
- God remains in control even when people resist His will.
- Hardened hearts block freedom, but God’s purpose still prevails.
- Salvation is by grace, not human willingness or strength.
Pharaoh’s Stubbornness Continues
After nine devastating plagues, Pharaoh still refuses to let Israel go, as God said he would.
This moment comes right after the plague of darkness covered Egypt for three days while Israel had light in their homes. It’s part of a repeated pattern in Exodus 7 - 10 where Pharaoh’s heart hardens again and again, even as the evidence of God’s power grows stronger.
The verse says the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, showing that God was in control of the situation, not Pharaoh. This doesn’t mean God made Pharaoh evil, but that He allowed his stubbornness to continue so His power could be fully shown before the final plague.
God’s Sovereign Purpose in Hardening Pharaoh
This hardening of Pharaoh’s heart is more than stubbornness; it is part of God’s larger plan to display His power and make His name known.
In Romans 9:17, Paul quotes directly from Exodus, saying, 'For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”' This shows that even when people resist God, He remains in control, using their choices to fulfill His purposes. It doesn’t mean God forced Pharaoh to sin, but that He allowed Pharaoh’s pride to continue so the full force of His power and justice could be seen by everyone.
This moment sets the stage for the final, most devastating plague - the death of the firstborn - where God’s judgment and mercy would shine most clearly.
God’s Authority Over Kings and the Purpose of Power
Even the most powerful rulers are under God’s authority, and their resistance cannot stop His purposes.
In Exodus 9:16, God says to Pharaoh, 'But indeed, for this purpose I have raised you up, that I may show in you My power, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.' This shows that God placed Pharaoh in power not to endorse his cruelty, but to demonstrate His supreme rule over all human kingdoms. In the ancient world, kings claimed divine status and absolute power, but this story turns that upside down - Pharaoh, the so-called god-king, is actually a pawn in God’s plan to free a slave nation.
Romans 9:17-18 makes this even clearer, reminding us that God shows mercy to whom He wills and hardens whom He wills, not arbitrarily, but to fulfill His greater purpose - so that His name would be known far and wide.
How This Story Points to Jesus and the Gospel
This moment in Exodus 10:20 is more than Pharaoh’s stubbornness; it forms a foundation for understanding God’s sovereign grace in the New Testament, especially in Romans 9.
In Romans 9:17, Paul quotes directly from Exodus: 'For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”' Paul uses this event not to excuse Pharaoh’s cruelty but to show that God’s mercy doesn’t depend on human will or effort, but on God Himself. This hardening, then, becomes a backdrop for the good news - God saves not because we deserve it, but because He chooses to show mercy.
That same chapter, Romans 9:18, continues: 'So then He has mercy on whom He wills, and He hardens whom He wills.' This doesn’t mean God forces people to reject Him, but that He allows resistance to fulfill His greater plan - so that salvation, when it comes, is clearly seen as His work, not ours.
All of this points forward to Jesus. God brought Israel out of slavery through judgment and deliverance, and He now frees all people from sin’s power through the cross. Pharaoh’s hardened heart contrasts with the invitation in Christ: 'Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest' (Matthew 11:28). The same God who judged Egypt’s king raised Jesus from the dead, offering mercy to all who call on His name. In the end, Pharaoh’s resistance highlights the wonder of grace - because unlike Pharaoh, we can choose to respond. And when we do, we find that the God who once hardened hearts now sends His Spirit to soften them, so we can be freed and brought into His family.
Application
How This Changes Everything: Real Life Impact
I once went through a season where I kept making the same bad choices, even though I knew they were hurting me and others. I’d say, 'I want to change,' but I kept returning to the same patterns - like Pharaoh, I was stuck in my own kind of darkness. Reading Exodus 10:20 reminded me that freedom is not merely wanting to leave bondage; it is letting God break through our stubbornness. The same God who brought light to Egypt in the middle of total darkness is the one who can shine into our hearts today. When I stopped relying on my own willpower and asked God to soften my heart rather than merely change my behavior, I began to experience real freedom. It wasn’t instant, but it was real - like stepping out of three days of darkness into the warmth of His presence.
Personal Reflection
- Where in my life am I resisting God’s call to let go, even after seeing clear signs of His power or care?
- When have I blamed circumstances or God for my own stubbornness, instead of asking Him to soften my heart?
- How does knowing that God can use even human resistance for His greater purpose change the way I view my current struggles?
A Challenge For You
This week, take ten minutes each day to sit quietly and ask God, 'Is there any area where I’m hardening my heart?' Think about it, write down what comes to mind, and then pray, 'Lord, show me what You want me to release.' Then, share one thing you’re struggling to let go of with a trusted friend or in your journal as an act of surrender.
A Prayer of Response
God, I admit there are times I resist You, even when I know You’re calling me forward. Forgive me for leaning on my own pride or fear instead of trusting Your goodness. Thank You that You’re not surprised by my stubbornness, and that You still offer mercy. Please soften my heart where I’ve grown hard. Help me to respond to You quickly, not only in big moments but in the small daily choices. Let Your light expose any darkness I’m holding onto, and lead me into the freedom You’ve promised.
Related Scriptures & Concepts
Immediate Context
Exodus 10:21
Immediately follows, describing the plague of darkness that covered Egypt while Israel had light.
Exodus 10:19
Precedes the verse, showing God’s removal of locusts, yet Pharaoh’s heart remains hardened.
Connections Across Scripture
Romans 9:18
Reinforces that God hardens and shows mercy according to His sovereign purpose, not human will.
Proverbs 21:1
Echoes that the king’s heart is in the Lord’s hand, just as Pharaoh’s was under divine control.
John 12:40
References Isaiah to explain how some hearts are hardened so that God’s plan may be fulfilled.